Do you have any advice to students wanting to enter into the field of Public Law?
You need to know the law in context. Don’ t look at it like black letter law. You must look at how it relates to society; history, political economy and anthropology. Thus, you need to know more than what a particular case says and understand the political climate, constitutional law and why judges make the decisions that they do.
Are there any attorneys you’ ve looked up to for inspiration?
The deputy DPP when I worked as a practitioner at my first job. He was not much of an advocate but he loved the law. I learned a lot from him. He was able to snap me out of my immaturity and reawaken these passions in me.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
Swimming which I did competitively in a club in Guyana for a short period of time as well as acting that I took up for a bit in Canada.
If not law, then...?
Writing fiction. Something I think takes a lot of courage. Courage that I don’ t have, so I write nonfiction instead( laughs)
Where do you see the St. Augustine law faculty in the future and what are your personal goals for this institution.
I’ d like us to offer a first class education and build a community of full-time academics. I believe we should become more active in the community and become a faculty that could weigh in meaningfully on issues of governance by way of public education. Some of that responsibility is indeed mine. My goal would thus be for a faculty that is more involved.
What advice do you have for students on balancing their social lives with their academic obligations?
You must be consistent and focused from the very beginning and develop a schedule. You need to know what your optimum time is. This is the period of time where you are most alert. This may not be more than two hours per day. If you utilize that time to do intense work every day you should be able to have a day off per week free. Breaks, like sleep are essential for rejuvenation.
Do you have any final words of advice to convey to the readers of this magazine?
Everybody has capacity to do any kind of programme but you can only do it if you’ re motivated. Lecturers can only do so much; the rest is up to you.
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